AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Trent is behind the bar, wiping glasses down, and nods to the door leading to Bruiser’s kitted-out soundproofed torture rooms.
“You get her back okay, Viper?” the kid calls out.
“Yeah. She’s at home in bed,” I grunt back. He nods, smiling and returning to his chore as I open the door, jog down the stairs, and stop at the closed one.
Taking a deep breath, my fingers close around the door handle, and I open it, stepping inside. There’s only one reason they would be down here.
I’m not surprised to see Aric and Bruiser standing over Joey, where she is tied to the metal chair in the middle of the room, her eyes darting around. They find me and narrow.
Aric and Bruiser look over as I carefully close the door behind me. I’ve never been down here before. Well, I had when they were storerooms, but not since they’ve beenupgraded.
It’s very minimalist. Dark tiles on the floor, white painted walls – easy to scrub with bleach. The only furniture is the metal chair Joey is tied to, welded to the floor, and a bare table that gives an ominous air.
“You get Naomi home okay?” Aric asks. Joey rolls her eyes as I nod.
“Yeah, I left her with Shelley and Lisa.”
Aric nods, and I halt beside them, Joey tipping her head back to look at us.
“If she’sfine, then why am I here?”
“Because she was in fucking Provo,” I growl, my teeth bared. Joey blinks in surprise, screwing up her nose.
“Provo? Her ticket was to Salt Lake City.”
“She got off early.”
“Well, that was stupid. At least in Salt Lake City, she would have been able to find a job. Provo is in the middle of fucking nowhere.”
My fingers flex at my sides. “A job? You gave her twenty fucking bucks. She wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere to stay, let alone a job.”
“Uh, hello. There are, like, shelters.”
My jaw grinds, and I cross my arms over my chest to avoid losing my temper. A homeless shelter? Is she fuckingkiddingme right now?Thatwas her plan for her sister?
Joey smirks with a shrug. “Besides. There’s one job that no one cares what you look like… if you’re desperate enough.”
Bruiser’s arm hits my chest as I take an involuntary step forward. Aric watches my face closely as I promise Joey pain with my eyes. Her plan was for her sister – myold lady– to be forced into prostitution? I’ll fucking end her. My fingers are itching to go for my gun.
Bruiser keeps his arm raised in front of my chest, half-heartedly barring my way. I’m not an idiot. The lieutenant is good at what he does – and his nickname suits him to a T – if I went for Joey, he’d have me wrapped up on the floor in a wrestling move in the blink of an eye.
Aric sighs, turning his face back to Joey, planting his feet apart, and crossing his arms over his broad chest as he stares her down.
“What did you do? The truth, or I’ll let Viper at you.”
Joey’s eyes dart to my face, widening slightly as she sees the promise there. Turning back to Aric, she shrugs, tipping her head to the side as she opens her mouth.
“I told her I wanted a truce. She agreed. We met out at the water reservoir.”
Aric frowns. “Why would she agree to meet you out there? Even in winter, it’s fucking hot.”
Joey shrugs again. “It’s where Mama used to take us for picnics as kids. I figured Naomi wouldn’t be able to say no to the nostalgia. She’s always dreamed of a perfect family.”
Yeah, and she got a fucked up one. If there is a God, he’s got a lot to answer for.
Aric nods to her. “Then what?”
Joey sighs, relaxing back into the chair as much as she can with her wrists and ankles bound to it.
